BROKEN HOME :: OT4

une leçon

Chapter Eight ; une leçon

"Okay, I understand there have been some disagreements, but we have to focus on the case." starts Tyler, reaching for a chalk and approaching the black board. All of the students take a seat on the sofa as they were in his half office, half home: preparing to actually learn something rather than watch some drama show every second of the day.

Even Officer Hemmings is joining them, sitting at the corner of the room with his hands scanning across the board as Tyler writes.

"Step One in to winning a case," he speaks before writing 'witness impeachment' in bold and underlines it. "Which one of you know what I mean by witness impeachment?"

Ashton immediately puts his hands up before answering "Witness impeachment is the process of calling into question the credibility of an individual who is testifying in a trial."

"You know if we wanted Wikipedia, we could have easily searched it up on the computer." remarks Ashley with her pen in between her teeth, gently biting at the lid as she smirks. Ashton can feel his heart sink in to the pit of his stomach and  he collects his notebook close to him as he looks down.

"Thank you, Miss Frangipane, but next time you feel like making a comment, it will outside of this house. " warns Tyler before turning around and writing the number two.

"Step Two- introduce a new suspect." their teacher's voice is loud and clear, but it still doesn't cover up the small hiss that was whispered between Josh and Ashley. Tyler by that time is stressed, and he is also angry at how disrespectful the students are being towards him; of course he is too young to be a teacher, but that still was not a good enough excuse - at least not to him- to treat him like that.

"Mr Dun, care to share our step three in to winning a case?" he asks and he knows he has caught the boy off guard, giving himself a little sense of satisfaction. And as Josh and Ashley look down, Ashton's hands slowly make their way upwards.

He is hesitant, specially after the little comment that was made about him, but he is so used to answering questions in class since ever he was small, he can't help himself but pass the chance.

"Bury the evidence?" questions Ashton after the teacher has nodded his way. As Tyler writes the step down, a small smile appears on the blonde officer's face because he noticed how much the picking is affecting the curly haired boy. Correcting his glasses, he looks towards Ashley who just gives him a dirty look and focuses on the lesson.

As if an interruption was needed, a rather violent knock is made on the door and Alex stands up to open it. He has been a quiet observer for the whole day, watching people creating distractions for themselves as he took notes and analysed everything that came out of his teacher's mouth.

In front of him stands a square faced lady with glasses and extremely 80s fashion covering up her body. She gives him a dry smile before walking past him, in to the house, without any greeting. She seems like she has hurt her feet, for she can not keep her balance but she tries her best to walk towards the lawyer of her son.

"Mrs Clifford, I didn't expect you to be here." greets Tyler with a hand out for her to shake. She looks up at him, almost as if she is waiting for some sort of re-assurance that the extended hand is not about to strike at her.

"I am just here to see my son..." she whispers, her voice drifting off slightly as she played with the button of her over sized jeans jacket.

"Yeah, of course, uhm he is upstairs." Tyler leads her to the way of the stairs, to which she obeys without any hesitation. "If you ever need someone to talk to.." Before finishing the sentence officer Hemmings got up from his seat and wiped off the sweat on his palms on his jeans before finishing; "We can get you a professional who can assist you. Just say the word."

The lady smiles at them, a warm one this time, and she heads upstairs to the directed room. She knocks ones before hearing the usual grumbling sound that comes out of her son's mouth.

"Mama?" he smiles and runs towards her to give her a hug. Although it had not been long since he last saw her, everything he went through with Calum makes him miss her more than he should.

He motions her to sit down by the bed and she does; with his head on her lap and her fingers in his hair, he tells her about every single thought train that have passed in the trails of his mind that day, and she just keeps on smiling when necessary.

And for the first time that day, he smiles as well; because he can not possibly imagine himself not doing anything for his mother; perhaps that is where he goes wrong; perhaps that thought is what would lead him in to performing a consecutive of events against his morals and values.

But he doesn't know that now; and he wants to stay in peace for even a small bit until she leaves.